The 2022 season was a disappointing one for Chris Taylor, and so far those struggles have crept into 2023 as well.
Taylor spent most of the offseason working with the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coaches to make adjustments to his swing. He also took a trip to the data-driven Driveline Baseball training facility.
But so far, his moments of success have been limited while his strikeouts have been magnified. During the Dodgers’ 5-0 loss against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, Taylor went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
His night was capped of by a strikeout with runners in scoring position, which he conceded was party fueled by a frustrating season, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“It was just the frustration getting to me,” Taylor said of the at-bat. “Swinging at bad pitches.”
Although Taylor has previously said that his swing mechanics are trending in the right direction near the end of Spring Training, they still need some more work:
“I feel like, mechanically, I was in not the best spot (to start),” Taylor said. “Even if it’s trending upwards, I’m still not quite right.”
Taylor has always had a high-maintenance swing that requires his mechanics to be working well to produce, and that is something Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cited for Taylor’s slump last season.
Taylor also dealt with a neck issue during the 2022 season that contributed to his poor mechanics and slump.
Taylor has always been a streaky hitter, but his current stretch goes beyond a cold streak, and the Dodgers will need him to figure out his swing sooner than later.
So far in 2023, Taylor is batting .091 with a .435 on-base plus slugging percentage and two home runs in 33 at-bats.
He has two years worth $26 million on his contract following the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Chris Taylor replaced Miguel Rojas against Giants
Miguel Rojas was in the Dodgers lineup on Wednesday night for only the third time since April 2, but he was removed in the series finale against the Giants due to a left hamstring cramp.
Taylor entered the game to replace Rojas, and he figures to be the everyday shortstop as long as Rojas is out.
Rojas attempted to continue playing by stretching his leg before limping off the field, so there is some hope he won’t be out too long.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
